If you're an expat searching for a thoughtfully designed apartment in one of Ho Chi Minh City's most sought-after neighborhoods, The Estella in An Phu, District 2 is worth serious consideration. This 3-bedroom, fully renovated unit sits on the 12th floor of a well-maintained building with resident amenities that go beyond the basics—pool access, modern gym, and a location that puts you minutes from shops, restaurants, and expat communities that actually feel like home.
The Estella An Phu: Why This Neighborhood Works for Expats
An Phu has become the quiet favorite among expat families and professionals who want to avoid District 1's chaos but still stay connected to the city. It's leafy, relatively peaceful, and the apartment blocks here tend to be older—which often means better layouts and more reasonable pricing than the gleaming new developments in District 7. The Estella building itself isn't a sprawling mega-complex; it's medium-rise with a genuine sense of community rather than anonymity.
Walking distance from here, you'll find the An Phu supermarket (the Vietnamese equivalent of a quality convenience store), a handful of solid local restaurants, and easy access to Thao Dien's entertainment strip without the premium pricing that comes with actually living there. The neighborhood feels like where Vietnamese professionals and long-term expats actually choose to live—not where developers think tourists want to be.
Transportation is straightforward: it's a 10-minute drive to District 1, about 15 minutes to the airport via the new highway, and the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro extension (when it finally finishes) will pass through District 2. For now, grab taxis are reliable and cheap from this location.
The Estella 3-Bedroom Layout: Study Room & Thoughtful Space Planning
The 171-square-meter floor plan is genuinely useful—this isn't a thin, hallway-heavy design. You get three proper bedrooms (not converted closets), three full bathrooms, and a separate study room. That study room matters if you're working from home, which many expats do. It's a real office, not a corner of the living room.
The full renovation is visible immediately: polished concrete or wood-look flooring throughout, fresh paint in neutral tones, upgraded kitchen fixtures, and modern bathroom fittings. I won't pretend it's ultra-luxury—the finishes are solid middle-market—but they're clean, current, and the sort of work that gives you confidence the building management takes maintenance seriously.
The main bedroom has an ensuite bathroom and enough floor space for a proper bed setup without feeling cramped. The second and third bedrooms are comfortable sizes for guests, children, or flexible home office setups. Natural light is good on the 12th floor; you're high enough to avoid street noise and the usual tropical heat-trap that ground-floor units can become.
The Estella Amenities: Pool, Gym & Practical Building Standards
The building pool is medium-sized and actually maintained—not a neglected concrete trough. For families with kids or anyone who values daily swimming, this is a genuine convenience. The gym is functional with basic cardio and weight equipment. Neither is resort-grade, but both are better than paying extra membership fees at external facilities.
Building security operates 24/7 with gate access, CCTV, and the kind of professional reception you'd expect in a mid-range complex. Water pressure is reliable, air conditioning is individual unit control (not building-wide), and there's backup power for the common areas during the frequent Saigon blackouts.
Parking: there's a secured lot. If you have a motorbike or car, this is straightforward. If not, it's not an issue. Most expats in this area rely on grab taxis or company drivers.
The Estella Location: One Block From Shopping & Dining
What makes An Phu special isn't flashiness—it's walkability to actual life. The building is steps from local Vietnamese restaurants that serve decent pho and banh mi at real prices. There's a small shopping center a five-minute walk that carries the brands and products most expats need without Saigon Square pricing.
The rent of $4,550 per month sits at a fair market rate for this size, condition, and amenities in this neighborhood. It's not cheap, but it's not overpriced either. You're paying for a well-maintained building, a good floor plan, and a location that actually works if you plan to stay longer than six months.
For expats wanting to explore neighborhood alternatives, District 2's broader apartment options offer a range of styles and prices. If you'd like to compare with other serviced apartment options across the city, browse serviced apartments to see what else is available at similar budget levels. And if family space is your priority, check our villas and houses for even larger footprints.
Moving Forward: How to Secure The Estella
The unit is unfurnished except for kitchen cabinets and bathroom fixtures, but "fully furnished" can mean different things. In our listing, this includes essential furniture (bed frames, dining table, basic seating). If you have specific furnishing preferences, we can negotiate what stays and what doesn't—that's part of the conversation when you contact us.
The lease term is flexible (12 months standard, but shorter terms are negotiable). Utility costs run approximately 150–200 USD monthly depending on air conditioning use. There's a refundable security deposit equal to one month's rent.
If you'd like to schedule a viewing or discuss the lease terms in detail, reach out directly. I can arrange access within 24 hours and answer any practical questions about the building, neighborhood, or what expat life actually looks like in An Phu.
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